The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals. Sign up today!
Planning your wedding day—a singularly joyous, momentous occasion—is exciting. But planning also comes with a lot of pressure to get every detail just right. Possibly the one item most emblematic of this, at least for the ladies, is The Dress. For most brides, the wedding dress hunt can be both fun and frustrating; it’s an emotional experience—especially trying to separate the gown of your dreams from what’s currently in style (and, of course, what actually looks good on you). If you’re wondering what kinds of dresses you’ll be seeing when you finally visit the bridal boutiques, here are our top five gown trends for 2017:
THE COLD SHOULDER
This style has been all over fashion runways for a couple of seasons now, so it’s no wonder bridal designers have picked up on the look. Designer Berta Balilti’s version (pictured, above) combines softly draped sleeves and a corseted bodice with a dramatic train for a look that’s ultra romantic. Berta (style 17-102); available at Anna Be, 1575 Boulder St., 720-856-1111, anna-be.com
COLOR
Opting to wear color on your wedding day is still something widely seen as more fitting for fashion iconoclasts. If you’re the confident and daring type, skip the pearly whites and blush pinks and go for something high wattage, like this high-low, canary yellow gown with floral appliqué by Naeem Khan. Its saturated hue is a bold statement for any bride willing to go outside the traditional pale color palette. Naeem Khan Nairobi gown; available at Little White Dress Bridal Shop, 1130 31st St., 303-814-8972, lwdbridal.com
PLUNGING NECKLINES
Many bridal designers also create red carpet looks for Hollywood’s A-list. If you watched the Golden Globes, you would have noticed that plunging necklines are a major trend—which is why they’re also showing up on bridal gowns. It’s a look that can easily become too revealing (especially for more demure or traditional brides) but Hayley Paige’s version in rich silk mikado manages to be beautiful, without exposing too much cleavage. Hayley Paige Maple gown (style 1255); available at Blue Bridal, 685 S. Broadway, 303-446-2583, bluegowns.com
BOUDOIR LACE
Another source of inspiration for bridal designers this season? The bedroom. Yes, sexy, negligee-inspired styles with lace are on-trend (if you haven’t guessed it by now, the décolleté is the “it” body region to display for spring). Romona Keveža’s fluted gown with nude slip and embroidered appliqué lace keeps the look modern and elegant. Romona Keveža, (style RK7487); available at Felice Bridal, 224 Steele St., 303-388-7637, felicebridal.com
Photo courtesy of James + Schulze
THE VEIL
If you’re even thinking of going sans veil this season, think again. Dramatic veils were seen on bridal runways from Reem Acra to Carolina Herrera. Plus, if you’re having a traditional wedding service, remember that your guests will be looking at your back for a not-insignificant length of time, so having a stunning veil provides them with something interesting to check out when their attention starts to wander. Denver-based bridal headwear designer Sara Gabriel’s Trinity veil features lace from the House of Sophie Hallette (a French lace and tulle maison founded in 1887), and is the perfect accent for a formal gown. Sara Gabriel 90-inch Trinity godet veil, $517, saragabriel.com